To correct Lincoln somewhat, he should have said, \x34. . . that government of the people, by the politicians, and for the politicians shall not perish from the earth.

Government's view of the economy: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. — Ronald Reagan

In the United States, the majority undertakes to supply a multitude of ready-made opinions for the use of individuals, who are thus relieved from the necessity of forming opinions of their own. -- Alexis de Toqueville

The presidential election is history. It’s time to cry over spilt milk, even though we shouldn’t. As an official pessimist, I’d like to share my doom and gloom.

I’m not Nostradamus, but I’ll make a few predictions based on what I fondly believe is logic.

America’s future continues on its path, and neither the winners or the losers can be certain of how things will play out. Winners might be quickly brought down to earth, losers may turn out to be winners (after a fashion.) A few losers will be so upset they’ll leave the country or even life.

This election was a referendum on how the economy is to be managed. Reaction has begun. I believe the economy will head downhill because business owners know bad things such as Obamacare and higher taxes are inevitable. Unemployment will go up. The stock market has trended down since November 7. I think it will trend down for a while. That’s not the problem.

The various factions that favored Romney are going crazy trying to reason out how America could have reelected Obama. Republicans are terrifically disillusioned: how can the American people be so stupid? They worry that people who live off the government might now be the permanent majority. People who work for a living have lost voting power. Most Republicans will fight on, but are now mostly irrelevant. It doesn’t matter much what we think or try to do. We’re like passengers on an Italian cruise ship that has struck a rock, dependent on how our incompetent captain decides to handle the situation.

On the bright side, pessimists like me seem to be in the minority. A bit more than half of the voters think everything is wonderful. Big government will take care of all our problems (There’s a federal program for that. Or, there’s a subsidy, tax deduction, or regulation. Or, a committee is working on it.) Big Brother is watching over us. We love Big Brother. (Yes, I read Orwell’s 1984.)

Obama retains control of the Senate, but not the House, until the mid-term elections in 2014, when the Senate may tip back to Republicans, the House to the Democrats, or not. Unless an epidemic of real bipartisanship suddenly breaks out, Congress will remain isolated and dysfunctional, and the two branches of Congress no doubt will keep on blocking each other. As in the past two years, Obama won’t be able to get any legislation passed, and will only be able to rule by executive order and disregard for the Constitution, and that’s what he’ll continue to do, becoming more and more like a dictator. Republicans will be increasingly enraged by that.

People who depend on government largesse may be ecstatic now, but Democrats won’t reform anything – they always kick the can down the road. However happy Democrat fans are now, we may have a total collapse of the American economy within a year or two. This would have unpredictable results, all very, very bad – for all, but especially those depending on big government. Entitlements may be gone or sharply reduced because we can’t afford them. Starvation, riots, and revolution aren’t inconceivable after such a collapse. Can you spell Greece?

President Obama has said he will work with Republicans, but he has always said that and never actually has done so. He has already drawn lines in the sand after pledging cooperation (as has Speaker Boehner.) Because of his contempt for ideas other than his own, he can’t change. As the economy continues to decline, the President may have a nervous breakdown because when he blames his predecessor, it will be himself.

So, America may be destined for fiscal collapse or other major problems. I’d like to be optimistic, but I’m (originally) from Missouri. You’ll have to show me.